Dangerous Station Platforms

[YorkshireBear]

Ice in bridges and stairs is potentially a more serious hazard than on the platform so I can understand why this was done. It's totally possible for ice to form in crystals or thin sheets under the cover of an overall canopy.

Of course it appears many minor stations have missed out on any treatment so that point I 100% agree with.

I agree. I was being a little tongue in cheek.
But Woodlesford (my only example) has not had roads blocked at all or any issues with access and is now 5 days untreated including stair cases and ramps. Very frustrating.

 

[BlueLeanie]

My Canadian cousin simply flicks a switch, and his drive starts melting in around 10 minutes.

Not sure if it's urban myth or not, but I was once told that The Mound in Edinburgh has had heated mats below the surface of the road since the 1950s to prevent winter accidents.

It's all very basic tech, 100 square (50*2) metres of heated matting installed in platforms that suffer from particularly poor weather would be cost effective at a platform refresh.

 

[YorksLad12]

I noticed this at stations on my Leeds to Sheffield run on Monday and Tuesday. My first thought was "what are station adopters / Friends Of groups there for?" Then I thought... probably not allowed because of a safety ruling. If t'were me, I'd be better at gritting platforms, steps and approaches than planting flowers any day.

 

[fishwomp]

I noticed this at stations on my Leeds to Sheffield run on Monday and Tuesday. My first thought was "what are station adopters / Friends Of groups there for?" Then I thought... probably not allowed because of a safety ruling. If t'were me, I'd be better at gritting platforms, steps and approaches than planting flowers any day.

I've not seen gritting salt left for anyone to use at the (sample of one) station I walked to yesterday.. although any salt would probably have been 'borrowed' for nearby drives.. Just needs farmer + quad-bike + salt spreading attachment + cash here..

 

[Grumpy]

Ice in bridges and stairs is potentially a more serious hazard than on the platform so I can understand why this was done.

I cant understand why some new footbridges and stairs are covered and some aren't

 

[YorkshireBear]

I noticed this at stations on my Leeds to Sheffield run on Monday and Tuesday. My first thought was "what are station adopters / Friends Of groups there for?" Then I thought... probably not allowed because of a safety ruling. If t'were me, I'd be better at gritting platforms, steps and approaches than planting flowers any day.

Not sure there is many of them between Leeds and Sheffield too.

 

[Watershed]

I was certainly rather surprised at how deep the snow was on Wilmslow's platforms the other day. The main parts near the canopy had been cleared but the ends must have had half an inch of snow.

 

[Russel]

Don't forget working within 1.25m of the platform edge classes as 'on or near the line' and would require PTS trained staff and a COSS, to set up a safe system of work (e.g. line block).
It's doubtful that the typical gritting team would include these competencies by default.

To spread grit??

I'm surprised we manage to run trains anymore...

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

Nothing on the Airedale line this week. Absolutely lethal slip and slide to/from the trains on the days I tried using it.

Meanwhile at Keighley, whilst the Northern platforms remained an exciting winter sport, the heritage railway platform in use had been completely cleared of ice and snow, too, which added to the frustration!

Obviously these things take resource, but I noted the 5 staff standing around at the top of the stairs chatting and checking tickets and wondered if the priorities were a little unbalanced.

 

[jfollows]

I was certainly rather surprised at how deep the snow was on Wilmslow's platforms the other day. The main parts near the canopy had been cleared but the ends must have had half an inch of snow.

I asked at the station yesterday and they confirmed that Avanti's failure to call all day Thursday was because of this. Presumably only a shorter length of platform than 11 coaches had been adequately cleared.

I was lucky in that I travelled to London yesterday, both services were only delayed less that the Delay Repay threshold, we made an additional down stop at Nuneaton because of an earlier cancellation but most things were working fine. And then today there's a complete mess because of power failures. But I had a good day out in London yesterday. The up morning service (06:55 from Piccadilly, but perhaps the reinstated 07:00 was busier) was extremely quiet, the down afternoon service at 15:33 was busy as expected.

 

[waverley47]

Not sure if it's urban myth or not, but I was once told that The Mound in Edinburgh has had heated mats below the surface of the road since the 1950s to prevent winter accidents.

It did, it was installed in 1959, and as far as anyone knows, it's still there, under the tarmac. It's not been operational in decades.

 

[Meerkat]

On a major snow day a few years back I forgot how big the step down was at Deepdene and got quite a shock and nearly went over as I discovered the snow to be at least 6 inches deep!
Someone at Guildford station had built a decent snowman on the middle platform.

 

[YorksLad12]

Not sure there is many of them between Leeds and Sheffield too.

On the fast route: Outwood, Sandal and Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, Moorthorpe, Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Swinton (ticket office closed on Monday), Meadowhall.
On the other route: Woodlesford, Normanton, Darton, Barnsley, Wombwell, Elsecar, Chapletown, Meadowhall.

A lot, basically. Plus the approaches to the platforms (which count as railway territory).

 

[LowLevel]

To spread grit??

I'm surprised we manage to run trains anymore...

It's not correct, winter weather precautions aren't included.

 

[DanNCL]

Don't forget working within 1.25m of the platform edge classes as 'on or near the line' and would require PTS trained staff and a COSS, to set up a safe system of work (e.g. line block).
It's doubtful that the typical gritting team would include these competencies by default.

If going within 1.25m of the platform edge requires PTS then I’d love to know many passengers have PTS…

Seriously though, just to spread grit or shovel snow it’s excessive. It’s not as if they’re being asked to paint the yellow line.

 

[MichaelTrains]

This is the current state of Bradford Forster Square.

It’s as dangerous as it looks. Even the conductor said it’s as if Northern have given up.

What happens if someone slips on the ice and goes under?

 

[YorkshireBear]

This is the current state of Bradford Forster Square.

It’s as dangerous as it looks. Even the conductor said it’s as if Northern have given up.

What happens if someone slips on the ice and goes under?

That is absolutely shocking. I am going to do some digging at work on Monday about this. I have never known it be like this before.

 

[Bikeman78]

We've been reporting platforms all week, Northern and East Mids still haven't visited some platforms. Though the company are supporting us, they are waiting for conductors to refuse to stop before pulling ststops.

What are the passengers meant to do if the train doesn't stop? My street was like an ice rink the other day so it's not as if walking/cycling/driving are better options. If someone has made it from their home to the station, they can probably cope with a bit of snow on a platform.

 

[MichaelTrains]

That is absolutely shocking. I am going to do some digging at work on Monday about this. I have never known it be like this before.

It’s the same on all three platforms.

A lady who was behind me nearly went under, that’s why I’m posting it in here.

There is literally a sheet of ice between the platform and boarding the train.

The conductors attitude doesn't help but I guess it’s not their fault the platforms are in such a state.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

What are the passengers meant to do if the train doesn't stop? My street was like an ice rink the other day so it's not as if walking/cycling/driving are better options. If someone has made it from their home to the station, they can probably cope with a bit of snow on a platform.

TOCs put on rail replacement buses/taxis as has happened this week.

You're taking responsibility for you making your way to the station, it would be the company that manages the station who is responsible for your safety once in the station. It's more the ice/concealed compacted snow rather than what is visible.

Personally I don't want to see passengers being hurt on untreated and unsafe platforms regardless of if someone takes personal offence at my decision.

 

[flyer]

That’s indicative of just about every platform on the Harrogate loop except Leeds and the 1 platform under canopy at Harrogate

 

[MichaelTrains]

That’s indicative of just about every platform on the Harrogate loop except Leeds and the 1 platform under canopy at Harrogate

So Northern have given up on passenger health and safety then?

 

[Bikeman78]

TOCs put on rail replacement buses/taxis as has happened this week.

You're taking responsibility for you making your way to the station, it would be the company that manages the station who is responsible for your safety once in the station. It's more the ice/concealed compacted snow rather than what is visible.

Personally I don't want to see passengers being hurt on untreated and unsafe platforms regardless of if someone takes personal offence at my decision.

Good luck getting replacement buses if the roads are icy. I literally saw some sliding down the hill past my house. I'd rather walk or go by train in those conditions than get in any motor vehicle.

 

[D1537]

What are the passengers meant to do if the train doesn't stop? My street was like an ice rink the other day so it's not as if walking/cycling/driving are better options. If someone has made it from their home to the station, they can probably cope with a bit of snow on a platform.

That was my original point that I posted from the train on Wednesday night though (post #40) - it isn't "a bit of snow on a platform", it's literally thick frozen snow and sheet ice at the exact point where people are boarding/de-training. If it was the day after a heavy snowfall there would be some excuse, but it's been that way for nearly a week now.

 

[Peterthegreat]

This was the platform edge at Swinton (S. Yorks) yesterday almost a week after the snow fell.
Swinton is used by around 1,000 passengers per day so is not exactly a lightly used station in the middle of nowhere.

 

[MCR247]

I should’ve taken a picture but the ones above reflect what Dronfield looked like yesterday. Especially concerning as walking through the station and over the footbridge seems to be a preferred route to school for a lot of school kids. Not paying customers, but if they hurt themselves on the platforms I don’t think that’d matter too much.

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

Keighley and Steeton on Wednesday were looking like this.

Keighley was in the evening, Steeton and Silsden in the morning. No effort appears to have been made to do anything at all. Thanks Northern / mitie.

 

[LMS 4F]

My Canadian cousin simply flicks a switch, and his drive starts melting in around 10 minutes.

Not sure if it's urban myth or not, but I was once told that The Mound in Edinburgh has had heated mats below the surface of the road since the 1950s to prevent winter accidents.

It's all very basic tech, 100 square (50*2) metres of heated matting installed in platforms that suffer from particularly poor weather would be cost effective at a platform refresh.

I saw this in Breckinridge, Colorado on a footpath on a slope. Signs stating heated path, do not treat in anyway. No doubt needed in the Rockies.

 

[dosxuk]

Many of these platforms look like the pavements around me in Sheffield, which despite being gritted multiple times a day by the locals, the sheer quantity of snow that fell and the subsequent deep freeze means it's taking days to melt back, even on well travelled parts.

We're not used to this sort of snow fall. The only way to keep surfaces clear of the snow and ice is too physically remove it, which requires a lot more effort than just chucking a bit of grit down. The worst bits of pavement around here are actually the ones where they've been melted a bit but are now in a constant slush <-> freeze cycle, which again, grit on its own won't magically fix.

 

[43066]

The conductors attitude doesn't help but I guess it’s not their fault the platforms are in such a state.

What do you want them to say? It sounds as though they’re agreeing it’s a bad situation.

Many of these platforms look like the pavements around me in Sheffield, which despite being gritted multiple times a day by the locals, the sheer quantity of snow that fell and the subsequent deep freeze means it's taking days to melt back, even on well travelled parts.

We're not used to this sort of snow fall. The only way to keep surfaces clear of the snow and ice is too physically remove it, which requires a lot more effort than just chucking a bit of grit down. The worst bits of pavement around here are actually the ones where they've been melted a bit but are now in a constant slush <-> freeze cycle, which again, grit on its own won't magically fix.

Almost certainly that’ll be it. Most platforms are gritted pretty effectively when below freezing weather is forecast, but who is going to be going around shovelling thick snow off them? Answer, nobody.